My wish for an Indian restaurant in North Scottsdale was granted a few months ago when Al Hamra opened its doors. Located in the shopping center on the Northeast corner of Pima and Pinnacle Peak Roads, (the same complex at Mastro‘s), Al Hamra is tucked back into the center right near some of the other restaurants.
I have had the opportunity to dine there two times and have enjoyed the food very much both times. The Papadum was a nice way to kick off the meal. From there, we had the Samosas. The samosas at Al Hamra are much lighter than I have had elsewhere, without the heavy dough to weigh them down. In addition, the potatoes inside are diced more finely than I have seen, which is great because you avoid big bites of potato while getting more flavor. As an added bonus, they are served with chickpeas in a nice, savory sauce.
We had the chance to try two of the Naan on our visits. The onion naan was good, but I really enjoyed the garlic naan. In both cases, the naan was served fresh and warm.
On the entree side, we ended up having the same entrees both times since we liked them so much the first time. The Chicken Tikka Masala is excellent. You are able to make it as spicy or non-spicy as you want it. We did a “7” the first time and there was definitely some heat. The second time, we did not specify and it was nice and flavorful, but did not have the same heat intensity.
Our other entree was the Chana Masala, which is a chickpea dish with garlic, ginger and spices. It too, was delicious twice over and you can also ask for a spicier or less spicy version.
The service during both of our visits was friendly and attentive. There is a large dining area with bar as well as patio seating. A full bar and limited wine list are available.
If you are craving some great Indian food or just want to try something different, definitely stop by Al Hamra in North Scottsdale.
More Information:
Al Hamra – Indian and Pakistani Cuisine
8900 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Suite E1
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
– NE Corner of Pima and Pinnacle Peak Roads
Phone : 480-538-9200
Al Hamra Scottsdale Website
Open Daily for Dinner from 4PM to 10PM
